Oct. 9, 2013

| Tournament Central

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Six Illini women's tennis players are heading to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the 2013 USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships, which run from Oct. 10-15 at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. The qualifying draw of singles starts Thursday, doubles play begins Friday, and Main Draw singles action of singles starts on Saturday.

Louise Kwong will compete in qualifying action on Thursday, marking the first action of her Illini career. Jerricka Boone will also compete for the first time as an Illini, starting with doubles action on Friday. Boone, Allison Falkin, Melissa Kopinski, Alexis Casati and Misia Kedzierski will also compete in Main Draw singles action on Saturday.

"The chance to see the competition you will be facing in the spring sets the bar," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "You see where you are, where you stack up, what strengths you have, and what improvements need to be made. That's what we're going to look for, the little things we can do better."

In doubles, Falkin and Kopinski will compete together for the second time this year. Freshmen Boone and Casati will compete together, and Kwong and Kedzierski will compete as a tandem.

Winners of the singles and doubles brackets will advance to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships in Flushing, N.Y. on Nov. 7-10, 2013. Last year, Kopinski advanced to the National Championships in doubles with partner Rachael White.

Teams Competing: Akron, Bowling Green, Chicago State, Cleveland State, DePaul, Detroit, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Illinois, IPFW, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Youngstown State